Mechanism for feeding blast-furnaces



B. NEWTH.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2,1918. 1,376,458. Pat nt May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

B. NEWTH. MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2| I9I8.

1,376,458. Patented May 3, 1921. v

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

B. NEWTH. MECHANISM FOR-FEEDING BLAST FURNACES.-

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2, I918. 1 ,37 45 Patented May 3, 1921.

s SHEETSSHEET 3.

B. NEWTH.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED AU G.2| 1918.

Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4'- fitter 1401 W W R Q% NNN mw %W\ N i v In w E E f E E QA WNW MW w aw MW W x MM s. NEWTH. MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST'FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED AUGLZ. i918.

Patented 3, 1921;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 ll Ml //H W/ U gwnbz B. NEWTH.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST FURNACES.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.2. 191s.

-1,376,458. Patented May 3, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BASIL NEWTH, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERTHOUSTON BARR, OTTO BOHRSMANN, IVAN HENRY, AND ALEXANDER MARKELL, ALL OFSYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BLAST-FURNACES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 1921.

Application filed August 2, 1918. Serial No. 247,974.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAsIL NEWTH, a subject of the King of Great Britainand Ireland, residing at Sydney, in the State of New South \Vales,Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mechanism for Feeding Blast-Furnaces, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to apparatus for conveying charges of rawmaterial in buckets to the tops of blast furnaces, and to means fortransferring the contents of these buckets into the interior of thesefurnaces.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved bucket conveyingmechanism suitable for the purpose of transferring buckets to and fromthe top of a glass furnace. These buckets are provided with means forclosing their lower ends to retain their contents and I have providedmeans for opening the bottoms of the buckets to permit them to dischargetheir contents. My mechanism includes means for supporting the bell withwhich the mouth of the blast furnace is sealed and for allowing it tolower to admit the charge delivered from the bucket, and means forclosing the top of the bucket to retain and opening it to release thegases which escape from the furnace in the charging operation.

This invention consists essentially of a combination comprising anoverhead carriage, a system of ropes, pulleys and weighted levers, awinding machine and balance weight, a retaining hook, a bucket pick up,one or more buckets of the type used in which the wall is separate fromand rests on a bottom by which the bucket is picked up, one annularcover, and a system of switches, automatic and interlocked, controllingthe operation in one complete cycle, all secured to a framework suitablydisposed about a blast furnace and sufliciently rigid for its purpose,with a landing for the buckets provided over the mouth vof the furnace,and the rope system connected with the furnace bell, the wholecombination so disposed and coordinated that the bucket is so suspendedunder the carriage that it can be raised or lowered by the windingmachine independently of the position or movement of the carriage, thatthe carriage can be moved to transfer the bucket horizontally without 5changing the level of the bucket or moving the winding machine, that thetackle carrying the bucket is so connected with that holding up thefurnace bell that the bell is held closing the mouth of the furnace aslong as the bucket is in suspension, that the bell is still held, but bythe retaining hook, when the bucket is not in suspension, excepting whenthe bucket is landed upon the furnace top, that the tackle holding thebell does not slacken when the bucket is landed, and that at a point inthe course of the emptied bucket returning from the furnace the cover ofthe bucket is caught and retained, allowing the release of includedfurnace gases, all of this mechanism being designed for the purpose ofpicking up the bucket with a charge of raw material from the truck,bringing it from under the chutes of the storage bins, conveying it to alanding place over the mouth of the furnace, opening the mouth of thefurnace and the bottom of the bucket only after the bucket is landed inthe seating provided, closing both these before picking up the empty 8illustrating this improved mechanism for feeding blast furnacesconstructed and arranged in accordance with this invention Figures 1 and2 exhibit the general arrangement of this invention in side elevation,Fig. 1 showing the portion disposed over and about the blast furnace andFig. 2 the rest of the combination.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the general arrangement of this invention intop plan,

Fig. 3 showing the portion disposed over the furnace, and Fig. 4; theremainder of the arrangement.

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional elevations in outline on the center line ofthe furnace,

showing the bucket landed over the furnace mouth, Fig. 5 representingthe bucket as landed or as picked up and Fig. 6 the bucket with itsbottom and the furnace bell both lowered to allow the contents of thebucket to fall into the interior of the furnace.

The section in Fig. 6 is taken at right angles to that of Fig. 5 toexhibit a further detail of the arrangement of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of my winding mechanism.

Fig, 8 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electric wiring and switches forelectric auto matic control of the whole operation of this invention inonecycle.

Fig. 10 is a detail view of one of the rope equalizers.

The top of the blast furnace, to the feeding of which this invention isto be applied, is shown in outline 19. There is ordinarily a conicalhopper 20 opening into the interior of the furnace, and suspended in theopening a cone shaped'stopper 21 usually called the bell.

For the purpose of this invention there must be a circular seating 22 tofit the side of the bucket with which the furnace is to be fed, and acovering 23 forming an inclosure about this seating over the conicalhopper forming the mouth of the furnace.

The truck or lorry upon which the buckets, with which the furnace ischarged, are brought from under the chutes of the storage bins is shownat 24. The lorry runs ordinarily on wheels 25 on rails 26 and in thedrawing it is shown standing at that point inits course best suited fordelivering a filled bucket to the hoisting mechanism which conveys it tothe furnace top.

The lorry is ordinarily power driven, adapted tocarry a bucket restingon weighing platforms 24 at either end, and has a housing 27 as shown inFigs. 2 and 4, which is arranged in the middle about the scale beams andthe controlling gear of the lorry and forms a stand for the man incharge of the driving, filling and wei hing operations.

Upright Iramework 28 1s bullt upon the "furnace 19 and upright framework29 is arranged above thes oecified position of the lorry 24, and brieging the space between these frameworks is a transverse framework 30carrying rails 31.

The framework is understood to be of ordinary engineering construction,suitably disposed and sufficiently rigid for its purpose, and the railsproperly supported and secured to provide a straight level sound track31 for the wheels 32 of the carriage or crab 33, which carries a loadedbucket from the lorry 24 to a point directly over the furnace, whencethe bucket is lowered to the furnace top.

Rope wheels 34 and 35 for the bucket suspenslon are mounted on the crab33 on an underslung framework 36 and the crab 1s propelled in eitherdirection by the toothed gears 37, 38, 39 and a reversible motor 40, allsuitably mounted on the said framework. Necessary braking provision isshown in the pulley 41.

T a 4 t l th 0 a rope equalizer a mountec in e framework 29 ropes 43 areattached. These ropes pass'around and hold in suspension pulleys 44carrylng a balance weight 45 and from the weight, the ropes pass to andover the winding mechanism 46 mounted at one 1 end of the transverseIramework 30. The ropes 43 pass upwardly over the wheels 47 of thewlnding mechanlsm to and around the wheels 48, thence back and aroundthe wheels 49, thence forward to and again around the wheels 48 andthence to and over the rope wheel 34 on the crab. From the wheels 34,the ropes pass down to, around and'hold in suspension thepulleys 50,which carry the bucket 51. 'From the wheels 50, the ropes '43 pass toand over the rope wheels 35 and, their ends are fastened to one end of aplate 52. On the other end of the plate 52 is pivoted an equalizer 53 towhich ropes 54 are attached, these ropes passing to and around thesheaves 55 and 56 mounted on the transverse framework 30. From thesheaves 56 the ropes 54 pass to, around and hold in suspension thepulleys 57 from which the ropes extend to and are secured to weightedlevers 58 pivoted on the framework 30. Movement ofthe levers 58 inopposite directions is limited by the limited by chains 64 connected tothe fur-= nace sides.

In the winding mechanism 46, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the wheels 47, 48,and 49 already referred to and another wheel 65 are all faced forrunning in contact and mounted in hearings on a. frame 67 suitablysecured to the main framework in the position indicated in Fig. 2. hewheels 48 about which the ropes pass twice have'outer and inner grooves68 and 69 and are driven by toothed gearing 7O, '71, 72 and a reversiblemotor 73, with necessary brake provision in the pulley 74, all suitablymounted in the frame 67. V

The wheels 49 are grooved as shownat 75 and the wheels 47 have theshaped grooves 76.

Referring to the balance weight 45 and its suspension the pulleys 44carry the top weight 77 in strips 78, the bottom weight 79 beingsuspended from the top weight by bolts 80, and the upper weights 81 aremounted on the bolts and carried by the bottom weight.

Guide shoes 82 on brackets on the end weights 77 retain the wholebalance weight on guides 82 suitably disposed in the framework 29, Fig.2. The rope equalizer 42, referring now to Fig. 10, has quadrants 83 ofsuitable radius, centered at 84 on pivots mounted in the frame 29. Thesequadrants are connected by links 85. The ropes 43 already referred areconnected to the eyes 86 and the pivots must be placed in the rightposition for a vertical disposition of the ropes passing about thepulleys 44.

In the plate 52 is a slot 90 for engagement with a retaining hook 91,see Figs. 1 and 3. The hook 91 is bolted to the channel iron 92 carryingthe pintles 93 which fit in bearings mounted in the framework 30. An arm95 bolted to the channel iron 32 is shaped for engagement by a cam 96mounted on the crab 33 designed to raise the arm 35 and thus depress thehook 91 clear of the slot 90 in the plate 52 when the crab standsdirectly over the top of the furnace.

A hand line 97, see Figs. 1 to 4, is attached to the arm 35 and passesover the pulleys 98 to a convenient point near the lorry 24 in theposition specified.

Referring particularly to Figs. 5 and 6, the pulleys 50 already referredto as carrying the buckets 51, have side plates 99 carrying pivotedlinks 100 which are connected by the pin 101 to the rod 102 fastened tothe bottom 103 of the bucket, the pin 101 for this purpose passingthrough holes in the ends of the links 100 and through an eye in the endof the rod 102 and for purposes of manipulation being fitted with ahandle 104. The body 105 of the bucket is detachable from and carried bythe bottom 103. The body 105 is cyl ndrical and is provided with a ledge106, which is adapted to fit on the seating 22 already specified forlanding the bucket on the top of the furnace.

, The lower portion of the bucket is conicalshaped as shown at 107. Thecover 108 of the bucket is annular and it provided with projecting lugs109 designed to engage a ledge 110 disposed in the framework 29, seeFig. 2. The cover 108 is provided with a cylinder 111 of a size toreadily fit about a cap cylinder 112 which partially incloses thepulleys 50 and carrier a circular plate 113 that is supported by theside plates 99 of the bucket suspension, the cylinder 112 forming withthe plate 113 a shield about and below the pulleys 50 constitutin acentral part to the bucket cover. With the bucket in suspension underthe pulleys 50 the cylinders 111 and 112 are just within each other asin Figs. 2 and 5, and they may be of equal length, and long enough to bestill within each other, as in Fig. 6, when with the side of the bucketsupported on the seating 22 the bottom 103 is lowered to the full extentrequired to allow the contents of the bucket to fall into the furnace.

Referring to the diagram in Fig. 19, an ordinary hand-switch 114 ismounted conveniently near to the lorry 24 in its specified position, andswitches 115, 116,117,118,119, and 120 are disposed in the framework 29in the track of a pin 45 carried by the'balance weight 45. Switches 121,122, 123 and 124 are mounted in the framework 30 in the path of a pin 33carried by the crab 33.

The switch 115 is so located as to be operated when the bucket pick uppulley 50 is in its lowest position oyer the lorry; the switch 116 whenthis pulley is lowest over .the furnace; the switch 117 where is can beoperated at the same time as the switch 116; the switches 118 and 119,where they can both operate a little before the bucket reaches itshighest position; and the switch 120 to operate when the bucket reachesits highest position.

The switch 121 is located to operate with the crab 33 standing over thelorry 24; the switch 122 a little way toward the furnace; the switch 123a little before the crab reaches its position over the furnace; and theswitch 124 with the crab standing over the furnace.

In the switch 117 only, engagement with the operating cam, instead ofmaking instant circuit in the switch, operates an ordinary timingdevice, the purpose of which is hereinafter referred to.

In the switches 118 and 119, the arms engaged by the pin 45 on thebalance weight only operate the circuit when the bucket is descending;in the switch 122 the arm engaged by the pin 33 on the crab onlyoperates the circuit when the crab is moving from the furnace, and inthe switch 123 only when the crab is moving toward the furnace.

A controller of the ordinary automatic type controls the operation ofthe winding mechanism motor 73, with suitable electric magnets, as shownin Fig. 9, the magnet 125 operating to start the motor in one directionfor hoisting, the magnet 126 operating to start the motor in theopposite direction to lower the bucket, and the magnet 127 operating tostop the motor.

A similar stationary controller for the crab motor 40 is arranged nearthe winding mechanism controller, both controllers being preferablyarranged in a housing operated near the winding machine 46. Thecontroller for the crab motor is provided with a magnet 128 operating tostart the motor 40 in one direction to move the crab toward the furnace,the magnet 129 operating to start the motor in the opposite direction toreturn the crab to the winding mechanism, and the magnet 180 to stop themotor.

With each of the six magnets specified the interruption 131 indicated inthe circuit is made to occur automatically at each operation of themagnet as soon as such operation is complete.

7 The electric circuit available for the purpose is connected to thewiring at the ter minals 132, 183. v

With the wiring connections indicated in Fig. 9 the switch 114 whenoperated completes the circuit in the magnet 125 but only througharcircuit in the switch 115; the switch 115 completes the circuit in themag-- net 127 and the circuit required for the switch 114; the switch116 the circuit in the magnet 127 but only through a circuit in theswitch 124; the switch 117 the circuit in the magnet 125 but onlythrough the switch 124; the switch 118 the circuit in the magnet 129 butonly through the switch 124; the switch 120 the circuit in the magnet127; the switch 124 the circuit in the magnet 130 and the circuitrequired for the switch 118; the switches 122 and 123 each the circuitin the magnet 126; and the switch 124 the circuit in the magnet 130 andthe circuit required for the switches 116 and 117.

The brake (not shown) for the winding machine about the pulley 74 andthe brake (not shown) for the crab about the pulley 41 will be the usualcontrivances of shoes or bands held in contact with the pulleys bysprings or weights, the effect of which is overcome by electro-magnetsin the circuits to the motors, consequently operating all the time themotors are driven by the current from the controllers.

The purpose of the balance weight 45 is to minimize the winding effortof the mechanism 46 by determiningthe same load on the pulleys 44 asthat on the pulleys 50 with the bucket 51 in suspension and half full ofthe charge it has to carry and without the annular cover 108.

7 Additional weight must be carried by the pulleys 50 if their weighttogether with a be taken out.

' The weight and purchase in the levers 62 must be so proportioned thattheir effect, together with'that of the weight of the pulleys 50 theirbearings and the side plates and links and the shield under thesepulleys, and allowing for inertia'and friction, is distinctly less thanthe weight of the furnace bell but distinctly greater when the bucket,empty and without the annular cover, is suspended from the said pulleys.

The weight and purchase in the levers 58 must be so proportioned thattheir effect is enough in conjunction with that specified for theweighted levers 62 to hold the furnace bell up but not enough to raisethe pulleys 50 when the bucket, empty, and without the annular cover, issuspended therefrom; in each case making full allowance for inertia andfriction.

The lengths of the ropes 54 are adjusted to hold the weighted levers 58horizontal when the plate 52 is pulled by their effect into tautengagement with the retaining hook 91.

The chains 59 are'adjusted to allow the weighted ends of the levers 58to rise sufliciently to allow the plate 62, drawnby the weight of thebucket in suspension, to move far enough toward the crab 88 tocompletely free the retaining hook 91 in the slot 90, and the chains 60to allow the weighted ends of the levers 58 to fall enough to allow theplate 52, drawn by the effects of the weighted levers 58 from the crab33 after the bucket is landed on the lorry, to come into full engagementwith the retaining hook 91 without relaxing the tension in the ropes 54holding up the furnace bell.

In operation with this invention with the pulleys 50 imposition with thelinks 100 hanging ready for connecting to lift a bucket from the'lorry24, and the weighted levers 58 holding the plate 52 in taut engagementwith the retaining hook 91 and the furnace bell 21 hard up to the inneredge of the conical hopper 20, and the circuit in the switch'121,required to complete circuits in the switches 115 and 121, closed,

anda filled bucket on the lorry in position under the pulleys 50, thelinks 100 are fitted about the eye in the rod 102 by which the bucket islifted, the pin 101 is inserted to make the connection, using the handle104,

and the winding machine 46 is set in motion by the hand switch 114.

The effect of winding in the ropes about the pulleys 50 after firstlifting them till the connection made with the pin 101 draws tight is toraise the weighted ends of the levers 58, drawing the plate 52 towardthe crab 33 and freeing the hook 91.

The bucket is picked up as soon as further movement of the weightedlevers is prevented by the chains 59,

The operation of the winding machine continuing the bucket ascendstoward the crab, in due course picking up the annular cover 108 which isresting on the ledge 110.-

The balance weight 45 descending, the

switch 118 is next operated to set the crab in motion toward the furnaceand this causes the crab to carry the bucket in that direction, and thebalance weight still descends until the switch 120 is operated and thiscauses the winding machine to stop.

The operation of the winding gear raising and lowering the bucket andthe changing position of the crab are quite independent the one of theother.

The position is now that indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, the buckettraversing horizontally under the crab in motion toward the furnace.

The crab 33 having traveled with the bucket nearly far enough to bringit over the top of the furnace, the switch 123 is engaged and theoperation of this switch sets the winding machine in mo'tion to lowerthe bucket. As the crab continues toward the furnace it next engages theswitch 124 and the operation of this switch causes the motor 40 to stopwith the bucket directly over the furnace and descending to land uponit. With the crab 33 in this position and the cam 96 on the crabengaging the arm 95 of the retaining hook mechanism, the retaining hook91 is now clear of the slot in the plate 52.

Also the circuit in the switch 124 required for the switches 116, 117 isnow closed.

As the bucket descends into the seating 22 on the furnace top, its bodyis retained by the ledge 106 engaging the edge of the seating. This isthe position indicated in Fig. 5.

The motion of the winding machine continuing, the weighted ends of thelevers 58, the "furnace bell 21 and the bucket bottom 103, all sustainedonly by the tension in the ropes 43 and 54, and the plate 52 free tomove, now all descend, the weighted ends of the levers 58 till held bythe chains 60, the furnace bell till the weighted ends of the levers 62are held by the chains 64 and the bucket bottom till it rests upon thefurnace bell in its new position.

This is the position indicated in Fig. 6.

The amount of rope passed over the winding machine and the elapsed timeare the same in whichever order these three events, namely the relaxingof the levers, the lowering of the bell, and the lowering of the bucketbottom, occur, neither has the order of these events the leastsignificance.

The exact location of the switch 116 relative to the balance weight pin45 is de termined so that the winding machine is stopped always justenough in advance of the completion of these events to preclude thepossibility of the ropes 43 and 54, slacking, leaving instead either thechains 60 slack, or the chains 64 or the bucket bottom in suspension.

The charge, not shown, carried in the bucket, of course commencesfalling out as soon as the bottom 103 lowers away from the lowerposition 107 of the bucket, continuing to do so until the position shownin Fig. 6 is reached and afterward until the whole contents of thebucket has fallen into the furnace. The formation of the bucket bottom,the conical hopper and the bell being all designed to insure andfacilitate this and to spread the charge as it falls in a suitablemanner inside the furnace.

It will be noted that the cover plate 113 prevents the escape of gaswhile the bucket is emptying. The switch 117, operated simultaneouslywith the switch 116, is timed to start the winding machine no soonerthan will give full time for the whole of the charge to fall into thefurnace.

The effect of the winding in the rope 43 is to raise the bottom 103 ofthe bucket and to draw in the plate 52 to raise the furnace bell 21 andthe weighted ends of the levers 58.

The order of events is again of no importance.

As soon as the bucket bottom is back in contact with the body of thebucket, the fur nace bell is closed, and the weighted ends of the levers58 are again raised to the height allowed by the chains 59, theoperation of the winding mechanism continues and the bucket is pickedout from the seating 22 and hoisted toward the crab. V

The exact location of the switch 119, engagement with which by the pin45 on the balance weight 45, when, as is 110W the case, the circuitthrough the switch 124 is complete, sets the crab in motion returningfrom the furnace with the bucket, is determined so as to start the crabtoward the winding mechanism as soon as the bucket is picked up.

With the departure of the crab, the retaining hook 91, which is balancedso to do, moves back into engagement in the slot in the plate 52.

The balance weight 45 next engages the switch 120, stopping the windingmachine, and the bucket continues the return journey horizontally.

Arrived nearly over the point where the bucket is lowered to the lorry,the crab33 engages the switch 122 setting the winding machine in motionlowering the bucket and next engages the switch 121 which acts to stopthe crab. The bucket then continues to lower inside the framework 29over the place from which it was originally picked up. And the circuitrequired later for operation of the switch 118 is now complete.

Next the lugs 109 on the annular bucket cover 108 engage the ledge 110provided in the framework 29, retaining the cover at this point, thebucket descending without it, and

The bucket lands upon the lorry on its a bottom and the motion of thewinding machine continuing the weighted ends of the levers 58 loweruntil the slotted plate 52 is drawn into taut engagement with theretaining hook 91. This done the next effect of the motion ofthe windingmachine is to lower the pulleys 50 and slacken the connection at the pin101 making it possible to withdraw this'pin by hand, thus detaching thepick up from the bucket. V The winding machine is now stopped theoperation of the switch 120 and this switch is exactly located to stopthe winding machine before the pulleys 50 are lowered any farther thannecessary for disconnecting and attaching the links with which thebuckets are picked up.

The lorry is now moved so as to bring the filled bucket into positionfor picking up, and the cycle is complete. In the-management of blastfurnaces it is desirable at times to allow the furnace gases to escapecontinuously through'the conical hopper with the bell lowered just forthat purpose.

To provide for this contingency in this invention itis only necessary tomove the hook 91 clear of engagement with the plate 52 at the time oflanding the bucket upon the lorry. This is the purpose of the handline97 already referred to.

With this done, as soon as the bucket is landed upon the lorry, theoperation of the winding gear continuing, the plate 52 is drawn forwardby the weighted levers 58 until these are restrained by the chains 60and then by the tension in the chains 61, 63, the bell lowering as faras its descent is allowed by the chains '64 holding the levers 62.

To prevent slacking in the ropes 4.3 and 54 the winding machine isstopped before the furnace bell is lowered the distance allowed by thechains 63. A special switch is provided and contrived to be only incircuit when there'is tension in the handline 97,

' located in the trackof the balance weight 45 where itwill stop thewinding machine at the right moment.

To close thefurnace, the winding machine is set in motion in theopposite direction by the hand switch 11 1 which is put in circuit bythespecial switch, the effect of which is to "raise the furnace bell andthe weighted ends of the levers 58 and then pick up the bucket. As soonas the bucket is again in ance Weight are attached can of course be 7used in this invention if desired instead of the system of V groovedwheels herein specified.

Having now fully described and ascertained my said invention and'themanner in which it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1.The combination with a blast furnace having an inlet provided with anormally closed bell, of mechanism for conveying a bucket to saidfurnace, and means included in said bucket conveying mechanism forcausing depression. of said bell when the bucket is connected with theinlet opening of said furnace.

2. The combination with a blast furnace having an inlet opening normallyclosed by a bell, ofa bucket designed to discharge its contents intosaid furnace through said inlet, mechanism for conveying said bucket tosaid furnace, a movable bottom for said bucket designed to engage saidbell for opening the same, and means included in the bucket conveyingmechanism for causing said bucket bottom to descend for depressing saidbell. v

3. A combination as defined by claim 2 in which the bell and bucketbottom are of conical shape. 4. A combination as defined by claim 2 inwhich the lower portion of the bucket is of conical shape, and thebucket bottom is of conical shape and operates with the lower portion ofsaid bucket for distributing material from the bucket into the furnace.

5. A combination as defined by claim 2 in which the bucket conveyingmechanism includes a vertical framework arranged over the furnace, avertical framework remote from the furnace, a horizontal frameconnecting said frameworks, and a crab traveling in said horizontalframe and supporting said bucket.

6. A combination as defined by claim2 in which the conveying mechanismincludes a horizontal track arranged above the furnace, a'crab travelingon said track and provided with rope pulleys, a winding mechanism, andropes connected to said winding mechanism, passing over the pulleys ofthe crab and connected to said bucket.

7 A bucket conveying mechanism for feeding blast furnaces comprising ahorizontal track arranged above the furnace, a

vertical framework connected to said track and forming a shaft in whicha bucket may be raised and lowered, a weight movable longitudinally ofsaid shaft, a crab mounted on said track, a bucket, winding mechanism,and ropes connected to said weight, winding mechanism, crab and bucketfor elevating and lowering said bucket.

8. In a blast furnace feeding mechanism, a vertical frame forming abucket shaft, a trackway passing through said shaft, a conveyer truckmounted on said trackway and designed to carry feeding buckets to theshaft, a horizontal frame connected to said shaft and provided with ahorizontal track, a winding mechanism associated with said shaft, aweight provided with pulleys, a bucket conveying crab mounted on saidhorizontal track and provided with pulleys, a bucket provided withpulleys, and ropes passing around the pulleys of the weight, the windingmechanism, certain of the pulleys of the crab, thence around the pulleysof the bucket, thence around the other pulleys of the bucket and thenceto relatively fixed parts on the horizontal frame.

9. A blast furnace feeding mechanism including a bell normally closingthe inlet to said furnace, weighted levers normally holding said bell inclosed position, a bucket designed to discharge its contents into saidfurnace and provided with a bottom engageable with said bell fordepressing the same, means for transferring said bucket to said furnace,and means included in said transfer mechanism for permitting thedepression of said bucket bottom and said bell.

10. The combination with a blast furnace having an inlet openingnormally closed by a bell, of a vertical shaft arranged away from saidfurnace, a horizontal framework extending between said shaft and saidfurnace and provided with a track, fixed pulleys provided on saidframework, weighted levers connected to said bell, weighted leversmounted on said framework, a latch provided on said framework, flexiblemembers connected to the weighted levers on the furnace and providedwith pulleys, ropes connected to the weighted levers of the frameworkpassing around the last named pulley, thence around the fixed pulleys onthe framework, a rope-equalizer connected to the other ends of saidropes and carrying a slotted plate, the slot of which is normallyengaged by said latch, a bucket conveying mechanism, and means includedin said bucket conveying mechanism designed to engage and operate saidlatch to permit said weights to be elevated for depressing said bell.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

T. P. ALLEN, Jr.,

H. O. CAMPBELL.

